Scale Overview
The Thought Control Questionnaire – TCQ was developed by Adrian Wells (1997). It is designed to measure Thought control strategies. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Distraction, Social Control, Worry, Punishment, Reappraisal.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Distraction |
1,9,16,19,21,30 |
6 |
| Social Control |
5,8,12,17,25,29 |
6 |
| Worry |
4,7,18,22,24,26 |
6 |
| Punishment |
2,6,11,13,15,28 |
6 |
| Reappraisal |
3,10,14,20,23,27 |
6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Almost always.
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 30 to 120. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low usage of thought control strategies: 30 – 60
- Moderate usage of thought control strategies: 61 – 90
- High usage of thought control strategies: 91 – 120
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.64 to 0.79 for subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.